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Ann Michael and Drake Maye walk across the field at Polar Park before the inaugural MayeDay Celebrity Softball Classic May 31. | Rick Cinclair/Telegram & Gazette / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Drake and Ann Michael Maye have quickly become fan favorites across New England.
On Sunday night, that love was on full disable in Worcester, where more than 9,000 fans attended the inaugural MayeDay Family Foundation Celebrity Softball Classic at Polar Park.
“They’ve embraced us since I got drafted,” Maye said. “I really love these fans, love playing for them. I love getting to meet them. Hopefully sign some more tonight, and just thankful to be here. I think it shows when you bring some energy back to the city and all sports, how much this city loves sports.”
“Everyone has been so kind to us,” Ann Michael Maye added. “We’ve been received so well and grown to love this place in a short amount of time. To see such a great turnout and how our idea, on a whim, kind of turned into something so cool is awesome.”
The event raised money for Boston Children’s Hospital, with the Mayes presenting an $80,000 check before the night began. The pair also pledged to donate $1,000 for each home run hit during the derby and $2,500 for every in-game homer. With total of 70 home runs hit throughout the evening, the donation total climbed to $94,000.
“It’s just for the kids” Maye said. “That’s what we wanted to do. It means a lot to us.”
Maye’s six home runs in the opening round of the home run derby advanced him to the finals, where he then tied Massachusetts native and San Jose Sharks forward Will Smith with nine. Maye gave Smith the win as a potential potential game-winning homer from Smith was robbed at the fence.
Plenty of Maye’s Patriots teammates and Boston legends such as Julian Edelman and Zdeno Chara then took the field for a seven-inning softball game. Cornerback Marcus Jones made sure to note that Maye stacked Team Patriots, which was managed by Mike Vrabel and featured DeMario Douglas, Rhamondre Stevenson, Will Campbell, Michael Onwenu, Hunter Henry, Romeo Doubs, and all three of Maye’s brothers.
In the end, Team Sox prevailed 17-16 behind two home runs from a barefoot Mack Hollins and several highlight-reel defensive plays from Jones at second base. Team Patriots left the tying run on base in the bottom of the seventh inning after Maye’s would-be game-winning two-run home run was caught on the other side of the fence by Massachusetts native and Seattle Kraken forward Matty Beniers.
Christian Gonzalez then recorded the final out by ranging into the outfield from shortstop to haul in a popup from Will Campbell. MVP votes in the press box were split among Hollins, Jones, Gonzalez (all on the winning team), and Efton Chism III.
Following the game, players gave away their jerseys and signed autographs while fireworks lit up the Worcester sky.
“I’m looking forward to trying to expand it maybe down the road,” Maye said. “But I think we got a great crowd and team of players this year.”
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